Celebrating kinship, what's next for pig heart transplants, fresh thinking non dementia research, key to health equity
March 18, 2022
We Belong to One Another
Expanding the Possibilities of Kinship
In a spirited Hastings Center event this week, disabled writers, activists, and scholars challenged the conventional view of disability as a “family problem,” in which disability is a tragedy for nondisabled family members. They celebrated the many ways that we can be in kinship with one another. Learn more and watch the event.
Death of Pig Heart Recipient What It Means for Future Patients
The death of the first recipient of a pig heart, who survived two months after the transplant, may suggest a short life-expectancy from this kind of procedure, but the experience of one patient can’t predict how well pig-to-human organ transplants will ultimately work, said Hastings Center research scholar Karen Maschke in an interview with The Associated Press. More research is needed involving multiple patients with similar medical histories. Read the article.
When Research Protections Risk Harm "Fresh Thinking" Is Needed
As many as half of people with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias live alone. Little is known about this community-based population. Ethics boards may disqualify them from study participation because of their uncertain capacity to give informed consent and because there’s no family member or friend who can give consent on their behalf. But the exclusion of people with dementia who live alone can lead to “the omission of important perspectives and underrepresentation in research,” write Hastings Center research scholar Nancy Berlinger; Kate de Medeiros, of Miami University; and Laura M. Girling, of University of Maryland, in the journal Dementia. They call for “balancing traditional concerns about research protections with fresh thinking about diversity, inclusion, and equality.” Read the article.
Improving Access Key to Improving Health Equity Takeaways from "Righting the Wrongs: Tackling Health Inequities"
Improving access to health care is critical to improving health equity, stated health care leadersat a panel at the health equity summit sponsored by The Hastings Center earlier this year. "It is very hard to guarantee good access to care if there's no physician or nurse," said Tom Sequist, chief medical officer at Mass General Brigham. Read more and watch a video of the panel.
Upcoming Events
"Is It Possible to Have Healthy People on a Sick Planet?" Gary Cohen will present the Callahan Annual Lecture, April 19.
"Ethical Issues We Have Faced Over the Pandemic and Lessons Learned." A talk by Hastings Center President Mildred Solomon at Yale. May 11.
The Hastings Center seeks to ensure responsible health and science policy and practice. We work to secure the wisest possible use of emerging technologies and fair, compassionate, and just health care for people across their lifespan.
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